Quevedo KOs Cardenas!

September 28, 2007

Report/Photos: Rocco Morales

Thursday night, Orange County fight fans packed the Irvine Marriott for promoter Roy Englebrecht's Battle In The Ballroom. It was the 17th consecutive sellout for this wildly popular bimonthly event.

In the main event, it was a bantamweight fight featuring two local journeymen fighters in Daniel Quevedo of Los Angeles, CA (5-6, 4 KOs) taking on Jose Luis Cardenas (5-7, 3 KOs) of Santa Ana, CA.

In a spirited round one, Quevedo and Cardenas brawled in pretty even action with Cardenas getting in some good overhand rights and left hooks to the body while Quevedo showed his skill by following behind his jab with hooks and uppercuts.

The end of the scheduled six round bout came early when Quevedo staggered Cardenas in round two and finished him off with a barrage of punches, highlighted by hard left hooks to the head. Cardenas went down hard in the corner and the referee correctly stopped the fight.

In the co-main event, it was a four round woman's lightweight fight as Peruvian Kina Malpartida (7-1, 1KO) took on Elizabeth Villareal (4-3, 2 KOs) from San Antonio, TX. Interestingly enough, Malpartida, now residing in Newport Beach, CA is actually a woman's surfing champion turned boxer.

Malpartida used her superior reach and a very stiff jab to control the action while Villareal tried her best to get on the inside in hopes of landing her looping punches. Although neither fighter was never seriously hurt in the fight, it was a clearcut unanimous decision victory for Malpartida who looks as if she may be a legitimate contender.

In other action, making his pro debut was decorated amateur fighter, bantamweight Charles Huerta from Maywood, CA. During his outstanding amateur career, Huerta racked up 10 national and regional titles. Huerta's prey for the night was Yoshifumi Momoki (0-1) of Houston, TX.

In good round one action, both fighters looked as if they were out for the kill. However, given Huerta's speed and apparent power, it looked like Momoki's time was limited.

With a devastating combination featuring a hard left hook followed by a right cross in round two, Huerta put Momoki on the seat of his pants in round two. Although Momoki looked hurt, he protested to no avail as the referee stopped the fight to give Huerta the first of what will likely be many knockout victories in his professional career.

In the second bout of the evening it was a middleweight fight featuring Mike Alexander (1-0, 1KO), of Antioch, CA, taking on Heriberto Cruz (1-3, 1KO), of Los Angeles, CA. Alexander resembled welterweight champion, Paul Williams, if in body and face only, as he did have some trouble keeping Cruz at bay despite Cruz' limited skills and wide punches. Cruz does appear to be fighting about three weight classes above his ideal weight while Alexander looked to be in great shape.

Cruz showed plenty of determination and heart but Alexander was able win every round en route to a unanimous 40-36 victory on the scorecards.

In the opening bout of the night, it was a welterweight bout with Daniel Castillo (1-1) of Vallejo, CA taking on Everado Lopez (1-0) of Stockton, CA.

Although Castillo was the busier fighter during the four round fight, it was Lopez who landed the harder and crisper punches. Castillo, despite being deducted a point for a low blow, went on to a unanimous decision victory.

This event marked the 17th consecutive sellout for Roy Englebrecht Promotions "Battle In The Ballroom" dating back three years as 1,412 fervent fight fans turned out. Battle In The Ballroom returns to the Irvine Marriott on Thursday, November 29th. Ticket information may be found at www.battleintheballroom.com